On This Day: Tommy Burns’ heartfelt Celtics championship victory at Tannadice
On This Day in 2008, Gordon Strachan’s Celtic team knew they would win another league title if they could replicate Rangers’ outcome when they played Dundee United at Tannadice. The league title seemed to be over after losses to Motherwell at the beginning of April and Rangers at the end of March. Six straight victories, including two over Rangers, put Celtic back in the running for the league championship, though.
Rangers had two games remaining and were 4 points behind. The week before, Walter Smith’s team drew 1-1 at Fir Park, but a few days later, they triumphed at Love Street to tie Celtic on points. Despite this, the holders’ goal differential was greater.
After Tommy Burns passed away during the playoffs, Celtic was devastated and resolved to win the league in Tommy’s honor. Burns scored to the ground, Tannadice, to help Celtic win the league in 1981.
The day before the head-up to the city of discovery, Strachan’s players practiced at Celtic Park, and a fortunate fan was able to snap a few pictures of the last-minute setup.
Rangers knew they had the advantage over Celtic as they made their way to Pittodrie. There was a great deal of anxiety in the Celtic end (and among those who snuck themselves into the United end) since the games were being played concurrently on a Thursday night.
The tension was heightened by a laborious first half in which both sides had chances. However, scenes of euphoria in the stands were caused when news broke after the hour that Aberdeen had seized the lead at Pittodrie.
Nine minutes later, the crowd erupted as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink rose to meet a corner from Paul Hartley and virtually guarantee Celtic’s league title.
After five minutes, Darren Mackie extended Aberdeen’s lead to 2-0, turning Tannadice into a frenzy of joy. While celebrating their league triumph, Celtic had caused some last-day agony to Rangers, following heartache on the final day in 2003 and 2005.
They fulfilled their promise to do it for Tommy Burns.
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